Domains & Identity Fact-checked 2026-08-14

ENS

Established 2017

The Ethereum Name Service — turn your wallet address into yourname.eth.

ENS maps human-readable names (alice.eth) to Ethereum addresses and other records, so people can send you crypto to a name instead of a 42-character hex string. It's the most widely adopted identity layer in crypto, integrated by virtually every major wallet and dapp.

Quick facts

Founded

2017

Pros

Replace addresses with memorable names
Universal support across the Ethereum ecosystem
Decentralised, community-governed protocol

Cons

Names are rentals — you renew yearly
Gas costs for registration and management
Ethereum-only (though records can point to other chains)

Best for

Anyone who transacts on Ethereum regularly

Fees

Registration ~US$5+/year for 5+ character names plus gas; premium short names cost more.

Security notes

Names can be configured with a guardian for protection. Beware phishing — always check you're on ens.domains.

ethereumnamesidentity

Frequently asked questions

What is ENS?

ENS is The Ethereum Name Service — turn your wallet address into yourname.eth. ENS maps human-readable names (alice.eth) to Ethereum addresses and other records, so people can send you crypto to a name instead of a 42-character hex string. It's the most widely adopted identity layer in crypto, integrated by virtually every major wallet and dapp.

Is ENS safe to use?

Names can be configured with a guardian for protection. Beware phishing — always check you're on ens.domains. As always, verify details on the official site before trusting funds to any service.

How much does ENS cost?

Registration ~US$5+/year for 5+ character names plus gas; premium short names cost more. Figures change — confirm current pricing on the official site before deciding.

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